Fishing at Bear Creek Reservoir 7-B, Gage County, Nebraska

• Overview

  The Gage County end of Nebraska holds Bear Creek Reservoir 7-B. The water sits 1,362 feet up. About 21 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is among the larger waters listed here for Gage County. 11 miles away sits Beatrice, the nearest town. Hickman is 16 miles away, with Wymore at 19 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Bear Creek Reservoir 7-B

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Survey and observation records for Gage County include common carp, flathead catfish, orangespotted sunfish, green sunfish and stonecat. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On this water the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 77°F in July and bottoms out near 23°F in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The lid usually goes in mid March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up near mid March, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. On this water the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Bear Creek Reservoir 7-E, 1.1 miles out. For this water, the notice at the access point is the final word.